So What the Heck is a Rich Internet Application (RIA)?
I cannot leave the keyboard these days without someone asking me a question regarding an interface technique they saw on suchandsuchasite.com. I am not talking about Web 2.0 crazy, hip, content and applications (ie – canitblend.com, a talking alien shoshkalee screaming across my screen). Rather, I’m referring to business-related solutions (can you believe it) such as e-commerce, processes, and data visualization. Users are realizing that the browser is finally starting to take form and relief is in sight.
As a way to begin understanding RIAs, here are the top 10 most common questions/comments I receive when evangelizing the concept:
- What is a (fill in some "RIA" annunciation here)?
- Can you help me better understand its benefits?
- Have you ever developed an RIA for (fill in some vertical here)?
- Can you link an RIA to a keyboard command (sure, but why put my mouse down)?
- Can I include video?
- Where can I learn about my return-on-investment as it pertains to my project?
- Who else is using them?
- Does it support drag-n-drop?
- Can my mom use it on her PC?
- Wow, it reminds me of my first experience with the Mac.
The term "RIA" was coined a few years ago to describe a richer, easier, and more useful online experience. Specifically, an RIA is a set of "presentation layer" tools that allows applications to quickly deliver dynamic data to the client. In addition, an RIA offers a high-fidelity user interface with a precision level that matches the look and feel of a native graphical user interface.
Or, more simply put, an RIA is an application on a website that behaves like your desktop.
Despite the recent growth and success of the web, the full potential of the browser remains untapped. It is constrained by the limitations of today's user experience. While it's easy for users to “Google” content, many web applications make activities like online shopping and registration incredibly difficult. Worse yet, more complex interactions like those in traditional client/server and desktop applications are almost impossible.
The advancements in interface technology have lead to some astounding experiences for the user. Initially, we witnessed key advancements in sign-up forms, financial services and web merchandising. Now, as adoption takes hold, we are seeing a push into guided selling, customer service, visual analysis and expressive content (combining two-way or sometimes "real-time" content and video).
Consequently, users are:
- Learning how to use RIA applications faster
- Staying in applications longer
- Making more online transactions and less data entry errors
- Completing tasks quicker
- Understanding information better
PARTNERS+simons has built a specialized team of RIA strategists, developers, and user interface design experts that are launching our clients to the forefront of this quickly developing technology.
